Hockey: Adaptable Manypeaks drown Tigers

Manypeaks and Spencer Park showed their ability to adapt to atrocious conditions with wins in the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association’s men’s A-grade competition on Saturday.

Manypeaks produced their best form for the second time in two weeks, downing Tigers 4-0 on a rain-sodden turf. The outcome of the two sides’ previous games this season had ended in draws but Peaks looked a cut above on the third occasion.

Fraser Bradbury opened the scoring for the ladder leaders in the first half, and while Darren Howie had a goal disallowed for an interchange infringement, Peaks scored three more to run away with the game in the second 8period.

Manypeaks captain Tim Pyle said his side was starting to hit top form and was pleased to get a win in tough conditions.

“They were very difficult conditions, very wet and very cold, but we outpaced them and played the conditions better,” Pyle said.

“A 4-0 win was very pleasing.

“I think we’re coming together. Our form is looking good now and we haven’t conceded recently either.”

They have scored 12 goals and two wins from as many games, sitting them six points clear at the top of the ladder.

Tigers’ Andy Wright said his team’s inexperience in wet conditions was a major factor in the loss.

“I think the difference in the first half was playing on wet turf – a lot of the younger players haven’t played in those conditions,” he said.

“The first half was fairly even, it wasn’t a blow out until the last 10 or 15 minutes of the game.”

Despite some impressive performances so far this season, Tigers are yet to find the results to mirror their brand of hockey and now sit in fourth spot with a solitary win and six points.

Spencer Park joined the Redbacks on eight points after they defeated Chris Thompson’s side 1-0, thanks to a solitary deflected goal from Sam Benson.

Park had numerous short corners but a combination of wet conditions and another stellar performance by Mitchell Pyle in Redbacks’ goal mouth ensured Benson was the only one to find the net in the match.

In the women’s action, Tigers moved to top spot on the ladder with a 1-0 win over Spencer Park, while North Albany enjoyed a 2-0 victory over Manypeaks, Sian Turner scoring a double.